As Drone Sightings Expand In NJ, Authorities Offer Few Answers

NORTH JERSEY — While there have been multiple official statements from government and law enforcement officials in the northern corners of the Garden State about the various drones in the skies over the last few weeks, there has been little in terms of information beyond one universal refrain: tell it to the FBI.

The drones (as officials describe them), which some have said should be Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects), have been been seen causing a stir in towns like Randolph, Mendham, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Sparta, Rockaway, Dover, Jefferson, Washington Township for several weeks. Now the sightings have spread further north and west with places like Sparta, Hardyston, Hampton, Frankford and Andover sharing their experiences.

"Our department is aware of the recurring reports of drone activity around Andover Township and surrounding communities and we acknowledge the public’s concern about these repeated sightings," the Andover Township Police said. "There continues to be no known threat to public safety."

They closed their statement with same advice to residents shared by Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald, Somerset County Chief of Detectives Francisco Roman, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Morris Plains Police Chief/Morris County Police Chiefs Association President Michael Koroski, Somerset County Chiefs of Police Association President/Hillsborough Township Police Chief Michael McMahon, Morris and Somerset County Offices of Emergency Management, Mendham Township Police Chief Ross Johnson, and Randolph Mayor Christine Carey: report what you see to the FBI.

"The subject County Prosecutor’s, Sheriff’s and Emergency Management Offices, our respective municipal police departments, working in close cooperation with the FBI-Newark, New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness partners, seek to reassure the public that we will continue to monitor and investigate the drone activity," they said.

What The FBI Says

FBI spokeswoman Amy J. Thoreson told Patch the agency is actively investigate the sightings and noted a focus of their investigation.

"The FBI Newark, NJ State Police and NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness are asking for the public to report any information related to the recent sightings of possible drones flying in several areas along the Raritan River," said Thoreson.

When reached by Patch on Wednesday about the latest night of high flying activity, Thoreson noted that they "don't have many answers."

" We don't want to guess, or hypothesize about what's going on. We are doing all we can to figure it out," she said. "I will update you as soon as I'm able to."

Anyone with relevant information is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit it online at tips.fbi.gov. Videos can also be uploaded to that website.

Repercussions

Officials had to cancel a medical helicopter's arrival to a Somerset County crash scene last week because drones were hovering near the landing zone, a report said.

The helicopter was en route to an accident near Raritan Valley Community College on Nov. 26 and two security guards closed roads around the crash scene, according to NJ.com. There was a seriously injured patient who needed taken to the hospital, the report said.However, local fire officials cancelled the request for the helicopter for safety reasons because unidentified drones were flying in the area, the college's supervisor of security told NJ.com.

According to previous Patch reporting, the medical helicopter was able to land at a nearby airport and transport the driver to Morristown Medical Center.

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued two Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base through Dec. 26 and Trump National Golf Club Bedminster through Dec. 6, at the request of federal security partners.The FBI began their own investigation on Nov. 26, approximately 10 days after the first sightings were reported, but there have been no updates since then.

Drone operators who conduct unsafe operations that endanger other aircraft or people on the ground could face fines up to $75,000. In addition, the FAA can suspend or revoke drone operators’ pilot certificates.